Snow arrives in the Australian Alps ahead of an Antarctic blast sweeping towards the south east

BLIZZARD conditions have developed in Australian ski resorts as a freezing blast of Antarctic air sweeps in from the Southern Ocean.

Michael Morrow

News Corp Australia NetworkJune 22, 20168:34am

The Australian Alps have been covered in a thick layer of snow as the Antarctic blast moves in from the south. Picture: Instagram/SkiclubgbSource:Instagram

BLIZZARD conditions have developed in the Australian Alps as the Antarctic blast rapidly develops and sweeps in from the Southern Ocean.

Ski resorts across Victoria and New South Wales were blanketed in a thick layer of snow overnight, as a cold air mass moved in from the south.

Widespread falls of up to 15cm fell across most of the resorts including Perisher, Mt Hotham and Thredbo.

The temperature at Thredbo’s Top Station at 7.30am was -1.0C but with the wind chill factor it felt more like -12.3C.

Wind gusts over 80km/h have also been recorded making for some challenging conditions for skiers.

Up to 60cm of snow is likely to fall across alpine areas over the next four days as a number of vigorous cold fronts move into south east Australia.

Large parts of New South Wales, Victoria, the ACT, South Australia and Tasmania will also feel the effects of the freezing weather system.

Hail and thunderstorms are forecast to develop in Adelaide tomorrow and sweep into Victoria, (including Melbourne), Tasmania and parts of New South Wales overnight into Friday.

The Bureau of Meteorology says snow levels across the south eastern states will lower to about 700m, with a dusting of white stuff expected in the mountains close to Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Hobart.

There is a chance the system may push further north into northern NSW and southern Queensland bringing a snow flurry or two later on Friday night.

Temperatures across the south east are expected to stay well below average well into next week.